Method and apparatus for fixing and constructing fences

ABSTRACT

An overall device is provided for supporting one or more pickets of a fence in alignment at the same height, in a horizontal plane in order to replace a damaged fence picket or in order to assemble a new fence unit. The overall device may be comprised of a first rail; a first device fixed to the first rail at a first location; and a second device fixed to the first rail at a second location spaced apart from the first location. The first device may include means for temporarily attaching the first device to a horizontal rail of a fence. The second device may include means for temporarily attaching the second device to the horizontal rail of the fence while the first device is temporarily attached to the horizontal rail of the fence.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to methods and apparatus concerning fixing andconstructing fences, railings, and other assemblies typically involvinghorizontal and vertical members.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are various devices and methods known for fixing and constructingfences, railings and other assemblies.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In at least one embodiment, an overall device is provided for supportingone or more pickets of a fence in alignment at the same height, in ahorizontal plane in order to replace a damaged fence picket or in orderto assemble a new fence unit.

In at least one embodiment, an apparatus is provided which may includean overall device which is comprised of a first rail; a first devicefixed to the first rail at a first location; and a second device fixedto the first rail at a second location spaced apart from the firstlocation.

The first device may include means for temporarily attaching the firstdevice to a horizontal rail of a fence. The second device may includemeans for temporarily attaching the second device to the horizontal railof the fence while the first device is temporarily attached to thehorizontal rail of the fence.

The means for temporarily attaching the first device to the horizontalrail of the fence and the means for temporarily attaching the seconddevice to the horizontal rail of the fence while the first device istemporarily attached to the horizontal rail of the fence, together maycause the first rail to be temporarily suspended from the horizontalrail of the fence.

The means for temporarily attaching the first device to the horizontalrail of the fence and the means for temporarily attaching the seconddevice to the horizontal rail of the fence while the first device istemporarily attached to the horizontal rail of the fence, together maycause the first rail to be temporarily suspended from the horizontalrail of the fence, substantially parallel to the horizontal rail of thefence.

The apparatus may include the fence.

The first device may be comprised of a U-shaped member which isconfigured to be temporarily attached to the horizontal rail of thefence; and the second device may be comprised of a U-shaped member whichis configured to be temporarily attached to the horizontal rail of thefence, while the U-shaped member of the first device is temporarilyattached to the horizontal rail of the fence.

The first device may include a first bolt which is inserted through afirst plate fixed to the rail of the overall device and through a secondplate fixed to the U-shaped member of the first device; and the seconddevice may include a second bolt which is inserted through a third platefixed to the rail of the overall device and through a fourth plate fixedto the U-shaped member of the first device. There may be a firstdistance between the first plate and the second plate which can beadjusted by moving the second plate along the first bolt; and there maybe a second distance between the third plate and the fourth plate whichcan be adjusted by moving the fourth plate along the second bolt.

The first device may include first and second nuts through which thefirst bolt is inserted and the second plate may be between the first andsecond nuts and the first and second nuts may be configured to set thefirst distance of the second plate from the first plate. The seconddevice may include third and fourth nuts through which the second boltis inserted and wherein the fourth plate is between the third and fourthnuts and the third and fourth nuts may be configured to set the seconddistance of the fourth plate from the third plate.

In at least one embodiment, a method is provided comprising attaching anoverall device to a horizontal rail of a fence, wherein the overalldevice may be configured as previously specified.

In at least one embodiment, in a repair operation, the method mayfurther include aligning the first rail of the overall device with firstends of a plurality of pickets of the fence; thereafter removing adamaged picket of the plurality of pickets from a location of the fence;thereafter inserting a new picket at the location of the fence in amanner which allows the new picket to rest on the first rail; fixing thenew picket to the fence at the location of the fence; and thereafterdetaching the overall device from the horizontal rail of the fence.

In at least one embodiment, in an assembly operation, the method mayinclude resting a plurality of pickets on the first rail of the overalldevice, so that the plurality of pickets are spaced apart and parallelto each other; thereafter, fixing the plurality of pickets to the fenceat a plurality of corresponding spaced locations; and thereafter,detaching the overall device from the horizontal rail of the fence.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a front, top, left perspective view of an apparatus for usein accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, with theapparatus in a first state;

FIG. 2 shows a front, top, left perspective view of the apparatus ofFIG. 1, with the apparatus in a second state;

FIG. 3 shows a front, top, and left perspective view of a close-up of aportion of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows a left side view of a device for use with the apparatus ofFIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 shows a right side view of the device of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a front, top, left perspective view of an apparatus 1 foruse in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, with theapparatus 1 in a first state. FIG. 2 shows a front, top, leftperspective view of the apparatus 1 of FIG. 1, with the apparatus 1 in asecond state. FIG. 3 shows a front, top, and left perspective view of aclose-up of a portion of the apparatus 1. FIG. 4 shows a left side viewof a device 46 for use with the apparatus 1 of FIG. 1. FIG. 5 shows aright side view of the device 46 of FIG. 4. The apparatus 1 includes afence 2, and a device 40. The device 40 may be called an overall deviceand includes rail 42 and devices 44 and 46. Devices 44 and 46 may becalled first and second devices, respectively.

The fence 2 may be, or may be replaced by any type of known fence. Thefence 2 may include a plurality of pickets or vertical bars or members,including pickets 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, and 32.The fence 2 may further include a plurality of rails or horizontal barsor members, including rails 34, 36, and 38. The fence 2 may furtherinclude a plurality of posts, such as posts 4 and 6.

Each picket, of pickets 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30,and 32 is shown inserted through one opening in rail 34, one opening inrail 36, and one opening in rail 38 in FIGS. 1 and 2. For example,picket 30 is shown inserted in opening 34 b, 36 b, and 38 b in FIGS. 1and 2; and picket 32 is shown inserted in opening 34 a, 36 a, and 38 ain FIGS. 1 and 2.

In FIG. 1, all of the pickets 8-32 are inserted so that an end of eachpicket contacts and sits on a rail 42 of the device 40. The rail 42, inat least one embodiment, keeps the pickets 8-32 aligned with each otherso that all of the pickets 8-32 are at the same height in FIG. 1. Whilethe weight of the pickets 8-32 is supported by the rail 42, the pickets8-32 can be fixed to the rails 34, 36, and 38, such as by nails, screws,or in any other known manner, such as by locking strips or wire rodssuch as shown in U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 14/505,901 and14/855,457, both titled “Method and Apparatus for Construction WhenVertical and Horizontal Members are Used”, which are both incorporatedherein by reference in their entirety. Thus the rail 42 of the device 40maintains the pickets 8-32 in an even and aligned state, while thepickets 8-32 are being attached to rails 34-36.

In FIG. 1, the rails 34, 36, and 38 have first ends which are insertedinto openings 6 a, 6 b, and 6 c, respectively, of the post 6. The firstends of the rails 34, 36, and 38 may be fixed to the post 6, such as bynails, screws, or in any known manner. Similarly, or identically, therails 34, 36, and 38 have second ends, which are opposite the firstends, which are inserted into openings 2 a, 2 b, and 2 c, respectively,of the post 2. The second ends of the rails 34, 36, and 38 may be fixedto the post 2, such as by nails, screws, or in any known manner. Therails 34, 36, and 38 may also be fixed to posts 2 and 6 using bracketsnot shown.

The device 40 includes devices 44 and 46, in addition to rail 42. Thedevices 44 and 46 may be similar and/or identical, in at least oneembodiment. Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the device 46 includes member orplates 46 a and 46 b, nut 46 c, bolt 46 d, nut 46 e, member or plate 46f, member or plate 46 g, member or plate 46 h, member or plate 46 i, andnut 46 j. Similarly or identically, the device 44 shown in FIGS. 1 and2, includes member or plates 44 a and 44 b, nut 44 c, bolt 44 d, nut 44e, member or plate 44 f, member or plate 44 g, member or plate 44 h, andmember or plate 44 i, and a corresponding nut, not shown, similar oridentical to nut 46 j for the device 44. The nuts 46 c, 46 e, and 46 jmay be or may be replaced by wing nuts. The bolt 46 d includes a bolthead 47 a and a bolt body portion 47 b. The bolt body portion 47 b, inat least one embodiment has outer threads. Similarly or identically, thebolt 44 d includes a bolt head not shown corresponding to bolt head 47 aand a bolt body portion, where the bolt 44 d is identified in FIG. 1.The bolt body portion of bolt 44 d, in at least one embodiment, hasouter threads.

The rail 42 may be welded or otherwise fixed to member or plate 46 b asshown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5. Similarly, the rail 42 may be welded orotherwise fixed to member or plate 44 b as shown in FIG. 1. The members46 g, 46 h, and 46 i, form a U-shaped member or plate which can betemporarily attached to the rail 38 as shown in FIG. 1. Similarly, themembers 44 g, 44 h, and 44 i, form a U-shaped member or plate which canbe temporarily attached to the rail 38 as also shown in FIG. 1. With theU-shaped member (including plates 46 g-l) and the U-shaped member(including plates 44 g-l) attached as in FIG. 1, the rail 42 of thedevice 40 sits under the rail 38 so that pickets 8-32 contact and reston the rail 42.

The spacing between the plate or member 46 h and the plate or member 42a of rail 42 can be adjusted by adjusting the locations of nuts 46 e and46 j. Typically the location of nut 46 c will be situated to pressagainst plate 46 a to hold the plate 46 a tightly against bold head 47a. The nuts 46 e and 46 j can be rotated on the outer threads of thebolt body portion 47 b to adjust the vertical spacing between the plate46 h and the plate 42 a, so that the height of the pickets 8-32 can beadjusted.

The spacing between the plate or member 44 h and the plate or member 42a of the rail 42 can be adjusted by adjusting the locations of nuts 44 eand a nut, not shown, which would be identical to nut 46 j, but fordevice 44. Usually spacing between the plates 46 h and 42 a will beequal to the spacing between the plates 44 h and 42 a, so that the rail42 will be parallel to the rail 38 from which it is suspended.

In operation, a picket, such as picket 22, shown in FIG. 2, may be slidupward in the direction D1. The picket 22 may be thereafter removed,such as when the picket 22 is damaged. The picket 22 may be replacedwith another picket, which is not damaged and which may be identical tothe other pickets, such as picket 24. The new picket may be slid intothe openings 34 c, 36 c, and 38 c, until one end of the new picket restson the rail 42. The new picket may thereafter be fixed to rails 34, 36,and 38 so that the first end resting on the rail 42 is even with firstends of all of the other pickets of 8-32 (not including removed damagedpicket) and so that second ends of all the inserted pickets opposite thefirst ends, are also even in a straight line.

After all pickets of 8-32 (not including damaged picket 22) and the newpicket are attached, the U-shaped member (including 46 g, 46 h, and 46i) can be taken off of rail 38 and the U-shaped member (including 44 g,44 h, and 44 i) can be also taken off of rail 38.

In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the posts 6 and 2 are shown inserted into holes ina ground surface 50. The ground surface 50 may be comprised of dirt,concrete, or some other known material, or some combination thereof.

The pickets 8-32, the rails or railings 34, 36, and 38, and the posts 2and 6 may be made entirely or partially out of any known fencematerials, such as wood, aluminum, or vinyl. The rail 42 of the device40, the plates 46 f, 46 g, 46 h, 46 i, 46 b, and 46 a, and the plates 44f, 44 g, 44 h, 44 i, 44 b, and 44 a may be made out of rigid metal suchas aluminum or any other rigid material such as a rigid metal or woodmaterial. The bolts 46 d and 44 d may be made out of rigid metal and thenuts 46 e, 46 j, and 46 c, and corresponding nuts 44 e, a nut not showncorresponding to nut 46 j but for device 44, and nut 44 c, may be madeout of a rigid metal.

In at least one embodiment, the overall device 40 is provided forsupporting one or more pickets 8-32 of a fence in alignment at the sameheight, in a horizontal plane, through use of rail or railing 42 inorder to replace a damaged fence picket or in order to assemble a newfence unit.

In at least one embodiment, in a repair operation, a method is providedwhich may include temporarily attaching the overall device 40 in themanner shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, thereafter aligning the first rail 42 ofthe overall device 40 with first ends of a plurality of pickets 8-32 ofthe fence; thereafter removing a damaged picket, such as picket 22 shownin FIG. 2 of the plurality of pickets 8-32 from a location of the fence(the fence including posts 4 and 6, and rails 34, 36, and 38);thereafter inserting a new picket, not shown, at the location of thefence, where the old picket 22 was, in a manner which allows the newpicket to rest on the first rail 42 of the overall device 40; fixing thenew picket, not shown, but similar or identical to any of pickets 8-32,to the fence, such as to rails 34, 36, and 38, at the location of thefence; and thereafter detaching the overall device 40, and devices 44and 46 from the horizontal rail 38 of the fence.

In at least one embodiment, in an assembly operation, the method mayinclude resting a plurality of pickets, such as 8-32 on the first rail42 of the overall device 40, so that the plurality of pickets 8-32 arespaced apart and parallel to each other, as in FIG. 1, thereafter,fixing the plurality of pickets, such as 8-32 to the fence, at aplurality of corresponding spaced locations as shown in FIG. 1; andthereafter, detaching the overall device 40, and devices 44 and 46, fromthe horizontal rail 38 of the fence.

The fence posts 2 and 6 may be any type of fence posts, such as eightfoot long, and four inch by four inch cross section (width by depth)fence posts. The rails 34, 36, and 38 may be any type of fence rails,such as eight foot long and two inch by one inch cross section (width bydepth) rails. The pickets may be any type of fence pickets, such as fivefeet long and one inch by one inch cross section (width by depth)pickets.

One or more embodiments of the present invention can be used in anyexisting fencing, railing or other system, typically involvinghorizontal and vertical members.

Although the invention has been described by reference to particularillustrative embodiments thereof, many changes and modifications of theinvention may become apparent to those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is thereforeintended to include within this patent all such changes andmodifications as may reasonably and properly be included within thescope of the present invention's contribution to the art.

1. An apparatus comprising: an overall device which is comprised of: a first rail; a first device fixed to the first rail at a first location; a second device fixed to the first rail at a second location spaced apart from the first location; wherein the first device includes means for temporarily attaching the first device to a horizontal rail of a fence; wherein the second device includes means for temporarily attaching the second device to the horizontal rail of the fence while the first device is temporarily attached to the horizontal rail of the fence; and wherein the means for temporarily attaching the first device to the horizontal rail of the fence and the means for temporarily attaching the second device to the horizontal rail of the fence while the first device is temporarily attached to the horizontal rail of the fence, together cause the first rail to be temporarily suspended beneath the horizontal rail of the fence.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for temporarily attaching the first device to the horizontal rail of the fence and the means for temporarily attaching the second device to the horizontal rail of the fence while the first device is temporarily attached to the horizontal rail of the fence, together cause the first rail to be temporarily suspended from the horizontal rail of the fence, substantially parallel to the horizontal rail of the fence.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising the fence.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first device is comprised of a U-shaped member which is configured to be temporarily attached to the horizontal rail of the fence; and the second device is comprised of a U-shaped member which is configured to be temporarily attached to the horizontal rail of the fence, while the U-shaped member of the first device is temporarily attached to the horizontal rail of the fence.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the first device includes a first bolt which is inserted through a first plate fixed to the rail of the overall device and through a second plate fixed to the U-shaped member of the first device; wherein the second device includes a second bolt which is inserted through a third plate fixed to the rail of the overall device and through a fourth plate fixed to the U-shaped member of the first device; wherein a first distance between the first plate and the second plate can be adjusted by moving the second plate along the first bolt; and wherein a second distance between the third plate and the fourth plate can be adjusted by moving the fourth plate along the second bolt.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the first device includes first and second nuts through which the first bolt is inserted and wherein the second plate is between the first and second nuts and the first and second nuts are configured to set the first distance of the second plate from the first plate; and wherein the second device includes third and fourth nuts through which the second bolt is inserted and wherein the fourth plate is between the third and fourth nuts and the third and fourth nuts are configured to set the second distance of the fourth plate from the third plate. 7-14. (canceled)
 15. An apparatus for constructing a fence comprising: an alignment rail; and a first device attached to the alignment rail and having a first attachment member disposed a first distance from the alignment rail, the first attachment member defining a channel that opens in a direction toward the alignment rail and is configured to receive a horizontal rail of the fence therein such that when the horizontal rail of the fence is received within the channel, the alignment rail is temporarily suspended beneath the horizontal rail.
 16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a second device attached to the alignment rail at a location offset from the first attachment member along the length of the alignment rail, and wherein the second device includes a second attachment member that is disposed a second distance from the alignment rail and that defines a channel that opens in a direction toward the alignment rail which is configured to receive the horizontal rail of the fence therein.
 17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the first and second distances are substantially equal.
 18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the alignment rail defines a planar surface which faces an opening of the first attachment member.
 19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first attachment member is adjustably attached to the alignment rail via an adjustment member extending between the alignment rail and first attachment member.
 20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the adjustment member is a threaded shaft.
 21. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first attachment member includes a first portion, a second portion, and an intermediate portion that extends between the first and second portions, and each of the intermediate portion and first and second portions partially define the channel.
 22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the first and second portions intersect the intermediate portion so as to extend downwardly therefrom and so that when the horizontal rail of the fence is received within the channel, the intermediate portion rests on a top surface of the horizontal rail and the first and second portions extend along opposite sides of the horizontal rail so as to restrict movement of the first attachment member relative to the horizontal rail.
 23. A method of constructing a fence comprising: placing a first attachment member of a first device of a fence construction apparatus onto a horizontal rail of a fence such that the horizontal rail of the fence is received within a channel defined by the first attachment member and such that an alignment rail of the fence construction apparatus which is attached to the first device is suspended beneath the horizontal rail; contacting the alignment rail with a bottom end of a first picket; and attaching the first picket to the horizontal rail of the fence.
 24. The method of claim 23, further comprising placing a second attachment member of a second device of the fence construction apparatus onto the horizontal rail of a fence such that the horizontal rail of the fence is received within a channel defined by the second attachment member, the second device being attached to the alignment rail offset from the first device.
 25. The method of claim 23, further comprising passing the bottom end of the first picket through an opening in the horizontal rail of the fence.
 26. The method of claim 23, further comprising: contacting the alignment rail with a bottom end of a second picket offset from the first picket so that the bottom end of the second picket is aligned with the bottom end of the first picket, and attaching the second picket to the horizontal rail of the fence.
 27. The method of claim 23, further comprising adjusting a distance between the first attachment member and alignment rail.
 28. The method of claim 27, wherein adjusting includes rotating a nut coupled to a threaded shaft attaching the alignment rail and first attachment member. 